Telecom Africa: Tonga Cable has selected telecom
equipment major Alcatel-Lucent to deploy an undersea cable link between the
Kingdom of Tonga and its neighbor Fiji.
The new cable link will enable the Tongan islands to
offer broadband services such as streaming video and high-speed Internet access
to residents and tourists alike.
The 837-km link with Fiji will provide Tonga with access
to the Southern Cross Cable, the main trans-Pacific link between Australia and
the United States.
Moreover, it will boost connectivity and substantially
increase the availability of broadband services for Tonga’s 100,000 residents
and help spur economic growth.
“This cable link with Fiji will create a gateway to
the global economy and community, and we are confident that it will provide
great benefits to Tonga’s citizens and the many visitors we welcome each year.
With the help of Alcatel-Lucent, we will be able to bring a much broader range
of communications services to people throughout the country,” said Robert
Bolouri, managing director of Tonga Cable.
Alcatel-Lucent will deploy its submarine optical solution
based on the OALC-5 cables, repeaters and the 1620 Light Manager (LM) submarine
line terminal – which can accommodate 10G/40G/100G wavelengths in the same
platform. The installation will be performed by Alcatel-Lucent’s Ile de Re
cable ship based in the region and is specialized for laying and maintenance
operations.
“We are pleased to be able to play a role in
strengthening Tonga’s connections with the rest of the world. This new link
will further expand connectivity throughout the Pacific Islands to drive
digital inclusion,” said Philippe Dumont, president of Alcatel-Lucent
Submarine Networks.
